If you’re a fan of Rashid Khan and are watching IPL 2025, you’ve probably been left scratching your head. Rashid, the player who usually makes batsmen quake in their boots, is having the roughest start to an IPL season. The man who has dominated the T20 circuit for years is struggling in 2025 like never before. In just 3 games, he's bowled 10 overs, given up 112 runs, and taken just 1 wicket. His economy rate? A staggering 11.2, which is far from the norm for a bowler of his caliber.
What’s even more shocking is that in the game against the Mumbai Indians, Rashid bowled only 2 overs - first time in his IPL career that he didn’t bowl his full quota of 4 overs while the opposition batted all their 20 overs. This doesn’t just show his poor form, but it’s a worrying sign for Gujarat Titans fans. It’s just rare to see a captain not give Rashid his full quota. It had never happened in an IPL match, and that raised eyebrows.
What’s Gone Wrong for Rashid Khan?
The man once feared by all for his tight lines, ability to deceive, and perfect control is now facing batsmen targeting him instead of respecting him. In his recent match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rashid Khan was taken to the cleaners. He gave away 54 runs in 4 overs, a costly spell that helped RCB surge.
The likes of Livingstone and David took full advantage of the uncharacteristically loose deliveries from Rashid. His misdirected balls down leg-side, as well as erratic lengths, have been evident, and batsmen are now looking to target him instead of fear him. His economy rate is suffering drastically as a result. When you compare this with his IPL 2024 campaign, where he was still decent, the drop-off in his performance this year is striking.
Is This Just a Temporary Slump or Something Bigger?
Even last season, Rashid wasn’t quite himself. His economy was fine, but in 12 matches, he took only 10 wickets, which was less than the number of matches he played. That’s a far cry from the legendary performances we’re used to seeing from him. His career economy rate in the IPL is below 7, having taken 150 wickets till date. But with his current form in IPL 2025, questions are starting to be asked: Has Rashid Khan’s magic finally worn off? Is this just a temporary slump, or is this the start of a testing phase for the Afghan spinner?
Can Rashid Khan Bounce Back?
It’s still early days, but Rashid’s form in IPL 2025 has serious question marks. Can he pull himself out of this rough patch? Gujarat Titans have heavily relied on him in the past, but with performances like these, he will need to find his rhythm fast. If he can’t turn this around soon, it will be interesting to see if the team starts looking for other options. Rashid Khan’s legacy in T20 cricket is undeniable, but this IPL season is definitely testing his mettle.
For now, it’s clear that Rashid Khan has to dig deep. Whether this slump is just a phase or a long-term concern will become clearer over the next few games.
